Thill-coupling.



PATBNTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

J No. 799,456.

M. E. GOVEY.

THILL COUPLING.

APPLICATION rum) APR. 26, 1905.

[NVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application fil d April 26, 1905. Serial in. 257,503.

reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side view of my coupling as applied with released position of parts shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2isa vertical section of the invention as applied. Fig. .3 is a perspective View of the coupling device removed from the thill-iron. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the spring. Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the bolt.

The invention has relation to thill-couplings;

and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter a designates an ordinary aXle-clip on the axle b, and 0 the coupling-lugs, between which the eye (Z of athilliron is received for connection to the lugs by means of a coupling loop-bolt e, the-upper straight branch f of which passes through the apertures of the lugs and through the thilleye. From one end of this loop bolt the lower hook-branch g depends by its vertical arm it, the transverse curved portion 7:? having an upward concave bend adapted to hold the tension-spring.

Bearing against the rear and lower surface of the thill-eye is a wear-plate m, having'a body portion 2 projecting downward and provided with a transverse bearing a through its lower end. The body 19 is provided with a rearward and upward extending flange t, the face a of which is curved downward and forward in accordance with the contour of the thill-eye. The front of this bearing-face '0 extends forward a little, forming a shoulder to engage the flat under surface of the thilliron, such engagement, together with the bearing of the flange against the clip, serving to give the wear-plate a position'of sufficiently positive or braced character to enable it to form a fulcrum to cooperate effectually with the tension-spring.

The loop-form tension-spring z is a combined spring and snap-lever and consists of which extend rearward along the sides of the clip-plate under the axle when the coupling is in position, and the short branch having the terminal hook portions or arms 8, which engage the lower hook branch g of the bolt, said branch being located below the depending portion of the wear-plate. The tension of the spring operates to force its transverse bar portion away from its terminal hooks, and when the parts are in position the downward strain of the portions .9 holds the bolt in place, while the upward pressure of the transverse portion a is sustained by the wear-plate, thilliron, and clip in a solid and well-braced manner, which gives efliciency to the wear-plate in its frictional engagement with the convex outer surface of the thill-eye.

The construction is designed to provide for the crossing of the bolt-loop by such action over and nearly at right angles to the main branches of the spring when in position, and

therefore the loop is a little longer than the body of the wear-plate, this diflerence being compensated by a slight difference in length between the coil-arms and the terminal arms of the spring, the whole being regulated by the length of the downward-projecting body of the wear-plate, which is designed to have its lower end about even with the bottom of the axle-clip.

To couple the thill-iron to the lugs of the clip, pass the bolt through the lugs and thilleye and pass the flange of the wear-plate in rear of the thill-eye between the lugs.- The spring will then depend, while the end of the wear-plate body will engage the clip-plate and nuts thereof. By forcing the coil branches of the spring backward and upward the bolt loop.

is caused to snap past the end of the wear-plate body and the branches of the spring to be held automatically in horizontal position in tension.

To uncouple the thill-iron, pull the spring down and slip out the wear-plate and bolt. These three parts are designed to be connected, so that they will be kept safely together.

It will be noted that the lock of the parts in position is due to the tension of the short and long branches of the loop-form spring connection after the lower transverse extension of the coupling-bolt is forced past a line passing through the coupling-bolt proper and the transverse eye of the depending portion of the wear-plate. In this position the lower transverse extension of the coupling-bolt cannot be forced back past such line without increasing the tension of the spring connection. Hence such action is resisted by the spring connection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the wear-plate having a depending portion,a coupling-bolt having a lower transverse rod connection located below said depending portion of the wear-plate, and spring means engaging said depending portion of the wearplate and said transverse rod connection for holding the parts in place, substantially as specified.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the wear-plate having adepending portion provided with a transverse eye, a coupling-bolt having a lower transverse extension below said transverse eye, and spring means engaging said transverse eye and transverse couplingbolt extension for holding the parts in place, substantially as specified.

3. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the wear-plate having a depending portion, a coupling-bolt having a lower transverse extension below said depending portion of the wear-plate and a connecting-spring for holding the parts in place engaging said depending portion and transverse coupling-bolt extension, substantially as specified.

L. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the wear-plate having a depending portion, a coupling-bolt having a lower transverse extension below said depending portion, and a tension-spring having a long branch engaging said depending portion of the wear-plate and a short branch engaging said transverse extension of the coupling-bolt, substantially as specified.

5. In a thill-coupling, the combination of the wear-plate having adepending portion provided with a transverse eye, a coupling-bolt having a lower transverse extension below said transverse eye, and a loop-form coupling-bolt having a long branch engaging said transverse eye and a short branch engaging said transverse extension of the coupling bolt, said branches being connected by a coil portion of the spring, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MERRELS E. COVEY.

Witnesses:

E. E. KnNYoN, J. H. WILLIAMS. 

